MACTThe following article was written by Atlanta Way 2.0 and Asia Woodard for SaportaReport. While this is about a program in Atlanta, I believe the same principals and lessons can apply to any community. Click here for their article. It is reprinted here with permission.
Local arts leaders believe Atlanta needs to help communities preserve their cultural offerings.
Theater and live performances are in danger of losing popularity with the rising trend of streaming services. Today, many people prefer to stay home rather than going out for entertainment.
Larger venues exist, such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., or the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, that are more suitable for major productions. But what about the smaller theaters in communities that go unnoticed by the general public?
Caitlin King is executive director of Onward Theatre, a non-profit organization based in Atlanta that focuses on fostering space to celebrate and uplift comedy and improv in the community.
In a recent interview, King shared her thoughts on starting and running a local theater group as well as why she believes these spaces are so important to our community.
The Onward Theatre was founded in 2020. It strives to be an inclusive environment that celebrates the diverse voices of the Atlanta comedy community. These smaller theaters offer experimental space for people to create productions at reasonable prices. They ensure resources are as accessible as possible to a broader audience.
These spaces are essential to creating strong and vibrant communities, but running an arts organization has its challenges, including funding.
Leslie Gordon, executive director at The Breman Museum in Midtown, is also a board member of Atlanta Way 2.0. As a leader in the arts scene, she provided insight into the city’s current state of arts and culture. She described how the government views art as a “want” in communities rather than a “necessity.” That often has led local governments to provide less funding as they prioritize other community needs.
“(Art) is different,” Gordon said. “It creates jobs. It creates the ability to think differently and be creative.”
That’s why she believes arts organizations deserve funding, mentioning research conducted by Chris Escobar, also an Atlanta Way 2.0 board member, who is executive director of the Atlanta Film Society, and owner of the Plaza and Tara Theatres in Atlanta. Gordon said Escobar keeps reminding the community that there is “no dedicated stream of funding for cultural organizations from anywhere in Atlanta.”
It would help local arts organizations get more funding if they could tell compelling stories of why they deserve the community’s support, she said.
Onward Theatre’s primary focus is on comedy and improv, which is a niche area of the arts.
In February of this year, Fulton County cut arts funding by more than 50 percent. This reduction not only threatens the survival of smaller, niche organizations like Onward Theatre but also sends a message about how undervalued the arts remain in the broader conversation about community investment.
When asked what the arts community can do to respond to this recent decline in funding and support, King said the number one answer was to “volunteer.” People need to get out and attend shows or volunteer to help smaller arts organizations thrive.
King believes COVID and the pandemic have caused a decline in audience attendance at live shows and performances. Not only does volunteering help the organization, but it can also improve people’s quality of life.
“It’s a great way to see shows for [free], a wonderful way to meet people,” King said, adding it is good for people to get away from their phones for a little bit, and see some compelling art.”
In the future, King hopes to see more growth at Onward and for the arts in general in Atlanta. She wants to see more investment from the local government in the arts, more community participation and more interaction.
As I see it, if we want to continue enjoying local theater and arts productions, it’s our job as citizens to give back to these spaces. We need to go to shows, interact with these organizations on social media, share events with our friends and volunteer at local productions. Those are just some of the ways you can support your favorite small theater or arts organization.
When’s the last time you went to a local production?
This is the time of year local arts organizations are gearing up for a fresh season of productions. Be sure to support your favorite Atlanta-based arts organization for the sake of creating a stronger community.